The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

FEATURE
Seeing the Better City, Making a Better Place
The author of the new book "Seeing the Better City" (Island Press) explains the importance of practiced skills of observation, and how a "vocabulary of looking" can be a foundation for participation in civic discussion.

BLOG POST
Finding Hope In Challenging Times
Despite depressing U.S. federal politics, there are many encouraging planning trends if you look internationally and locally.

Public Transit Must Evolve to Survive
Ride hailing apps have changed the way people travel. Though public transit may lose ridership to these services, transit should also learn from technological advancements and use those insights to improve transit service.

Meet the New Clouds Included in a Long-Awaited Update of the International Cloud Atlas
For the first time in 30 years, a crop of new clouds will enter the canon of cloud varieties recognized by meteorologists all over the world. This is also a good time to talk about climate change.
The Most Sustainable Town in America
The story of Babcock Ranch, "a planned community that could become the most sustainable town in America," as told by Marlene Cimons for Nexus Media.

Opinion: How Fire Chiefs and Traffic Engineers Make Places Less Safe
Fire standards and street design manuals, meant to protect people, actually make them less safe by damaging walkability and encouraging driving—a classic example of silo thinking.

Where Millennials Are Entering the Homebuying Market
LendingTree ranks the most popular cities for Millennial homebuyers.

Islands of the World Get Their Own Smart Congress
After six years of successful Smart City Expo World Congresses in Barcelona, the island of Majorca will host one that focuses exclusively on islands. It will focus on technology and innovation, and address unique challenges islands face.

Most Large U.S. Cities Now Home to Mostly Renters
The foreclosure crisis and the Great Recession have paved the way for a steady decline in homeownership. Many cities will never be the same.

Today: BART Goes Farther South Than Ever Before
As it has promised for years, Bay Area Rapid Transit today opens the Warm Springs/South Fremont extension of the regional rail transit system. The first train departs at the station at 5:48 am, and the first train arrives at 7:04 am.

Miami Bike Bridge Proposed
After four crashes that led to deaths of four cyclists riding the Rickenbacker Causeway, a new bike bridge has been proposed in Miami.

Friday Fun: The 50 Best Food Trucks In the U.S.
Feast your eyes on a list by Modern Cities of the 50 best food trucks in the United States.
Disabled Residents in Jefferson Park Hope Controversial Building Comes Through
Apartment building with subsidized units for the disabled has drawn protest and support, Alex Nitkin talked to some of the people hoping to move into the apartments.

Volkswagen Emissions Cheating Scandal Produces Land Use Lawsuit in Michigan
The city of Pontiac has filed a lawsuit over the illegal storage of hundreds of Volkswagen vehicles. The vehicles have mothballed at the Pontiac Silverdome as a result of the buy-back program necessitated by the 2016 emissions cheating scandal.
Can Insurance Markets Jump-Start Resilience?
Risk-management experts are seeking creative ways to finance resilience investments that prevent damage from natural disasters. Insurance markets, with their direct stake in protecting homes and businesses, can be key partners in this effort.

Veterans Ride Free on Kansas City Buses
The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) has partnered with veterans group to provide free transit to the city's veterans.

Transportation Sales Tax Advances in Colorado Legislature
A bill to ask voters in November to increase the state sales tax by 0.62 percent to fund transportation projects passed its first House committee March 22 on a partisan vote, with Democrats in support and Republican opposed.

Can Rideshare Catch On Where It's Easy to Drive?
In medium-sized cities and suburban areas, it's simply easier to drive your own car in most cases. But shared rides might still have a chance to catch on.

Surprising Trump Effect: Many States Seek to Ramp-Up Renewable Energy Mandates
As President Trump rolls back climate and energy regulations, many states are attempting to require utilities to get more power from renewable sources. Also, fewer states are attempting to reduce or eliminate renewable energy requirements.

Cleveland Pastors Travel to Detroit to Send Message About Stadium Renovation
The Greater Cleveland Congregations protested the Cavaliers Stadium renovation in front of Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert's Quicken Loans headquarters in Detroit.
Pagination
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.